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Faith Communities Embrace Solar Power to Protect the Planet
25 Oct
Summary
- Religious groups promote Sun Day to educate on climate solutions
- Solar panels help churches save 30% on monthly energy bills
- Congregations see solar as a "sleeping giant" in clean energy
As of October 2025, a growing number of religious organizations and denominations are taking action to address climate change and promote sustainable energy solutions. Inspired by Earth Day, the first annual Sun Day event took place on September 21st, 2025, with the goal of educating people on critical environmental issues and clean energy alternatives like solar power.
The event was organized by various nonprofits and congregations, including Solar Faithful and Michigan Interfaith Power & Light, who are working to encourage faith communities to rethink how they power their establishments. According to Rev. Fletcher Harper, the founder of GreenFaith, Sun Day represents an opportunity for religious Americans to stand up and make it clear that they are concerned about the climate crisis.
One success story is the New Mount Hermon Church in Michigan, which made eco-friendly upgrades including the installation of solar panels. This has resulted in a 30% reduction in the church's monthly energy bills, allowing them to redirect those savings towards supporting and enriching their local community. Solar panels have also turned the church into a haven for the community during power outages and extreme weather events.
Environmentalist Bill McKibben described solar power as "the Costco of energy," emphasizing its affordability and accessibility. Solar Faithful board member Steve Mulder sees religious communities as a "sleeping giant" in the world of clean energy, and the organizers of Sun Day are determined to wake that giant. This year, countless faith communities across the country, from Chicago to Baltimore, participated in the event.
The article highlights that it's not just solar panels that places of worship can adopt. Heat pumps, efficient water appliances, LED lights, and proper insulation are all upgrades that can help reduce utility costs and free up resources for community programs. As Rev. Jay Horton observed, "If faith communities came together, we could really see impacts in our world."
